Page-end indicator for typewriting machines



Aug. 24 1926.

A. SEIGNEUR PAGE END INDICATOR FOR TYPEWRITING MACHINES Filed March 26. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 24, 192 1,596,949

A. SEIGN EU R PAGE END INDICATOR FOR TYPEWRITING MACHINES 9 Filed March 26, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 24, 1926.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE.

'ADALBER'I SEIGNEUR, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

PAGE-END INDICATOR FOB TYPEWRITHTG MACHINES.

Application filed March 26, .1925, Serial 110. 18,497, and in France July 11, 1924.

For counting the lines printed in typewriting machines and the like and for signalling the completion of a certain number of lines, devices are used in which signalling and counting elements are constrained to follow the movements of the platen in opposition to a spring until, on the completion of'a predetermined number of lines, the signalling device is released and the elements restored automatically by the spring to their initial position.

The resent invention relates to a device of this kind and consists in the provision of a spring-controlled barrel which is coaxial with the platen and provided with figures that indicate in a window, the number of remaining lines on a page, the barrel being geared to the platen through the medium of a speed-reducing gear and a clutch which is controlled by a rod, the latter being caused, at the end of a page, to release the clutch and strike a bell.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, an embodiment of the invention Fig. 1 is a side view of the counting device,

Fig. 2, is a section thereof, takenupon line II-II of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a view of the inner mechanism,

Fig. 4 is a section taken upon line IV--IV of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 shows a detail,

Fig. 6 is a section taken upon line VIVI of Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 is a side view of the counting device,

Figs. 8 and 9 show details.

The counting device comprises a casing 1 fastened upon the frame of the typewritlng machine by any appropriate means. In this casing, which is provided with two walls 2 and 3, is located an axle 4 fixed uponcthe axle of the platen of the typewriting machine. Upon this axle is secured a ratchet wheel 5, the pawls 6 of which are fastened upon a toothed wheel 7 freely rotating upon the axle. The axle 4 bears, moreover, a barrel 8 which rotates freely upon, the axle and which is integral with a toothed wheel 9 located inside the barrel. A clock-sprin 10 disposed inside the barrel is fastene on one hand, to the barrel, and, on the other hand, to a stud on the wall 2. On the free end of the axle 4 is screwed a nut 11 which limits the lateral plays of the barrel and which bears a knob 12 whereby the platen of the typewriting machine can be rotated. The barrel is provided, on its circumference, with two rows of ciphers which correspond to the lines of one sheet; that is to say that the one row corresponds to the greatest number of closely spaced lines which may be written upon a sheet whilst the other row corresponds to the greatest number of widely spaced lines (Figs. 4, 7 and 9). The ratio of gearing differs according to the model of typewriting machine and is calculated in such a manner that, whatever he the size' and the number of teeth of the platen, the maximum number of lines ofa full-sized page can be wholly registered upon the periphery of the barrel. u

The wall 3 is provided with a ring 13 disposed concentrically with the axle 4 and havmg three slots 14 into which are engaged three screws fastened intoa ring 15 which rotates freely on the ring 13. The slots 14 are arranged obliquely so that a rotary adjustment of the ring 15 brings it away from or toward the wall according to the direction of the movement. In Fig. 2, the ring 15 is distanced from the wall, whilst it is near to the latter in Fig. 4.

One end of the ring 15 terminates in a cone 16 which lifts the three pawls 6, when the ring is distanced from the wall 3, by engagin underrollers 17 on the Ipawls. In this posltion of the ring, the paw s leave the ratchet wheel 5; and the rollers travel, upon the cylindrical part of the ring 15. When the ring 15 returns to its initial position, the pawls engage the teeth of the wheel under the action of s rings 18.

The two toothedw eels 7 and 9, which are of difierent diameters are geared together by means of two inions 19 and 20, in such a manner that t e barrel 8 rotates at a reduced speed, say about half the speed of 1 the wheel 7 (Figa. 3 and 4),

The ring 15, and with it the clutch mechanism, is controlled on the one hand by a spring 28 and on the other hand by a rod 21 which projects through a slot 22 in the casing 1 and which also serves to strike the bell 23 (Figs. 2, 5 and 7). This rod is retained in its clutching position by a catch 2% having two operating levers 25 and 26 and a returning spring 27 (Fig. 6).

Upon the wall 2 is disposed a rotatable crown 29- carrying a headed operating rod 30 and an abutment 31 which lies in the path of an abutment 32 of the barrel and which supports the latter normally in opposition to the spring 10. This crown is retained on the wall 2 by projections provided on the braces 33.

The wall 2 is formed with a notch 34;, in the bottom of which are drilled a certain number of holes 35, the distance apart of which corresponds to the space between two consecutive lines. The pointed end of the rod 30 may be screwed into each of these holes for fixing the crown.

The working of the apparatus is as follows I Before beginning his work, the operator adjusts the barrel 8 by means of the rod 30 and the crown 29, within the limitsof the notch 34, for the desired number of lines, which will be indicated in the window of the casing 1, the crown being fixed by securing the rod to one of the holes 35.

The operatorthen lifts the clutching-rod and starts his work. Each'rotary movement of the platen is communicated to the barrel 8, and the numbers appearing in the win dow will .be continually reduced .in value.

Before the beginning of the last line, the bell will indicate to him that this linealone remains to be typewritten.

In the case when, for any reason whatever, the operator in the course of a page, should desire to no longer use the line-counting device, it would be sufficient for him to push the lever 25 backwards, thereby releasing the clutching-rod 21.

By lifting the clutching-rod when it is in the position of rest or unclutching, the operator fastens it to the catch 24 and causes the ring 15 to effect a rotary motion. Its screws guide it in the oblique slots of the fixed ring 13 and impart to it a movement of translation toward the left. The pawls, which rested with their rollers 17 upon the cylindrical portion of the same ring, leave it, slide along the cone and, being depressed by their springs, enter into engagement with the teeth of the toothed wheel 5 integral with the axle 4.

The clutching being performed, any movement of the axle will be transmitted, throu h the medium of the pinions 19 and 20, to tie toothed wheel 9 and, consequently, to the barrel 8 with which it is integral. In the window will appear the successive low figures indicating the number of lines which remain to be typewritten.

Two figures appear side by side in the window. The left one corresponds to the double spacing. .The right one corresponds to the single spacing. To facilitate the reading, the latter row, only contains alternate figures. The shape of the window, however, is such that, when a figure does not present itself exactly before the indexline, two figures appear inside the window, and the exact position of the paper is found by taking the intermediate figure. Thus if 2123 are read inside the window, 22 lines are left.

On arrival at the line 1, the abutment 32 which is inside the barrel strikes against the pin 26 of the unclutcliing device and raises it, thus causing the catch 24 to release the rod 21. The clutching-rod being no longer retained will be returned by its spring and will strike the bell. At the same time theclutching ring moving with the rod, is laterally displaced so as to disengage the pawls 6 from the toothed wheel 5.

Under the action of the spring 10 cont-ained in the barrel the gearings are then set in motion for returning the barrel to its initial position with its abutment in contact with the crown abutment 31, and the original numbers will again appear in the window. The operator may now withdraw the paper-sheet and insert a fresh one in its lace, the apparatus being then ready to W01{ by the mere operation of the clutching rod.

I claim 1. A device of the character described for counting the lines printed in a typewriting machine having a rotatable platen comprising a spring-controlled barrel arranged coaxially with the platen and provided with line indicating figures, a s eed-reducing gear for transmitting motion rom the platen to said barrel, a spring-controlled clutch mechanism for coupling the platen to the gear, means for retaining the clutch mechanism in operative position against the action of its spring, means for releasing the clutch mechanism at the end of the page and means for signalling such release.

2. A device of the caracter described for counting the lines printed in a typewriting machine having a rotatable platen, comprising a spring-controlled barrel arranged coaxially with the Iplaten and provided with line indicating gures, a s eed-reducing gear for transmitting motion mm the platen to said barrel, a ratchet wheel connected to the platen, pawls connected to the gear for driving engagement with said wheel, a spring-controlled ring tending to hold the pawls out of. engagement withthe wheel, means forretaining the ring out of contact with the pawls, means for causing the barrel after a given rotary displacement to release said ring, and-means for signalling such release. 5 3. The structure claimed in claim 2 and means for setting the barrel initially according to the number of lines to be printed.

4. The structure claimed in claim 2 in addition to an abutment which retains the barrel normally against the action of its spring, 10 and means whereby said abutment can be adjusted for regulating the starting position of the barrel. I

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification. ADALBERT SEIGNEUR. 

